Federal Government Ends Mandatory Pre-Retirement Leave Policy

The Federal Government has abolished the mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave previously granted to civil servants before their official exit from service, in a move aimed at improving workforce productivity and ensuring uninterrupted public service delivery.
The decision was announced by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, who said the policy forms part of ongoing reforms designed to strengthen efficiency across the federal civil service. Under the new directive, retiring officers will remain at their duty posts until their official retirement dates, unless otherwise approved through established administrative procedures.
According to the government, the scrapping of the mandatory leave will help ministries, departments and agencies retain experienced personnel for longer periods, reducing disruptions caused by early departures and easing the transition process for incoming officers.
Officials said retirement preparations, including documentation and pension processing, would continue without requiring officers to leave their positions three months before retirement. They added that the reform would also enhance accountability and ensure that public servants complete ongoing assignments before leaving service.
“The objective is to improve service delivery and optimise the contribution of officers up to their last day in service,” the statement said. Authorities assured workers that their retirement benefits and entitlements would not be affected by the policy change.
The development is expected to impact thousands of federal civil servants approaching retirement, with government officials expressing confidence that the measure will contribute to a more effective and responsive public service.